Experts on Green Economy have commended Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for the leading role he is playing on climate change in Africa and for the concrete measures his administration has put in place in promoting a low carbon economy.

Two leading members of R-20, which promotes green economy across the world, Mr. Terry Tamminen and Mr. Christophe Nuttal, lavished praise on Uduaghan yesterday during a courtesy call on him at the Government House in Asaba. The duo, who were in Asaba for a workshop on Green Economy, observed that Uduaghan was not just the first African leader to have a vision on climate change but has also put the vision into an action plan.

Tamminen, the Strategic Advisor to the Founding Chairman of R-20, Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said: “We have seen a tremendous innovative bio-gas programme, we have seen solar system, the waste facilitator that is under construction is probably one of the most cost-efficient material that I have ever seen; there is a lot of innovation there.

“We want to take a lot of what you have done and try to help the rest of the world. You have a great team (of climate change experts).”

On his part, Nuttall said: “You (Uduaghan) were the first African leader to have this vision about having a green economy. This is so exciting not only for Africa but for the rest of the world to show that things are happening (in Delta State).”

Uduaghan told the team that his administration’s Green Economy and Climate Change Policy, was not an end in itself but aimed at creating more opportunities to empower youths and women in the state in line with Delta beyond Oil programme.

The governor, who is also the Vice Chairman of R20 in Africa and the Middle East, disclosed that his administration has keyed into the low carbon economy to ensure that there was fresh air and that the environment was friendlier.

“Climate change issues and low carbon economy is an opportunity for clean environment and to engage our youths and women in various environment-friendly projects,” Uduaghan said, adding: “More environment-friendly projects have been embarked on and others will soon follow. We need a lot of assistance as it concerns climate change in the state.”

Udughan said it would be a thing of joy for Mr. Schwarzenegger to visit Delta State to see the outcome of what he initiated while he was the Governor of California state in the US. He stated that the R20 green economy initiatives did not only end with the developed countries as developing countries were doing a lot to clean the environment.

•Photo shows Governor Uduaghan.

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